Downey to upgrade three school crosswalks
DOWNEY, CA — Three school crosswalks in Downey, including two shared with South Gate, will be upgraded with state and county funding after the Downey City Council approved a $297,028 construction contract on June 23.
The project will add pedestrian-activated flashing lights, known as flashing beacons, along with brighter signs and new pavement markings to make students and other pedestrians more visible to drivers.
The upgrades will be made at three marked school crosswalks. Two are on Gardendale Street at St. Pius X–St. Matthias Academy, including one at Hoover Avenue and another about 300 feet east of Arizona Avenue. The third is on Downey Avenue between Cherokee Drive and Lexington Road, adjacent to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.
The project is funded through California's Highway Safety Improvement Program and Los Angeles County Measure R Local Return transportation funds, not the city's General Fund.
The council awarded the contract to Elecnor Belco Electric Inc., the lowest of five bidders, to complete the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project.
The upgrades are part of Downey's Local Road Safety Plan, which identifies projects to improve traffic safety throughout the city.
The Gardendale Street crossings are shared by Downey and South Gate, with Downey serving as the lead agency on the project. The two cities entered into a cooperative agreement last year to complete the work together.
Construction is expected to begin in late July and be completed by November.
The city received five bids for the project, ranging from $297,028 to $449,944. City staff recommended awarding the contract to Elecnor Belco Electric, noting the company has completed similar projects in Los Angeles, Glendale, Fullerton, Pasadena, Inglewood, Whittier, and Downey itself.
Elecnor Belco Electric previously completed a 2016 traffic signal upgrade project at nine Downey intersections and a 2018 project to convert city streetlights to energy-efficient LED fixtures.
Although the construction contract totals $297,028, the city's overall project budget is estimated at $474,578, including design, engineering, construction inspection, city-furnished materials, and contingency costs.
Project budget breakdown ($474,578)
The total project budget includes more than just construction. It covers planning, engineering, inspections, and contingency costs.
- Construction contract: $297,028
- Design and preliminary engineering: $68,847
- Construction inspection and materials testing: $50,000
- Construction engineering and project administration: $25,000
- Contingency (10%): $29,703
- City-furnished materials: $4,000
Construction contract breakdown ($297,028)
The construction contract with Elecnor Belco Electric covers the work needed to upgrade three school crosswalks.
- Traffic control and mobilization: $15,800
- Three pedestrian-activated flashing beacon systems: $34,374
- Traffic signal poles, electrical equipment and wiring: Approximately $145,000
- Crosswalk striping, yield lines and school pavement markings: Approximately $16,000
- New signs and sign posts: Approximately $10,000
- ADA pedestrian push buttons: $5,100
- LED streetlights: $5,001
- Removing old signs, striping and equipment: Approximately $16,000
- Other electrical work, conduit, pull boxes and breakers: Remaining contract costs
